Five Key Points You Need to Know About Ethylene Oxide

Ankur Singhal | May 3, 2023

Interest in potential hazards of EtO has increased in recent years in large part because of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) reassessment of EtO’s toxicity and its April 2023 proposals for handling and emissions of EtO. The aim of this post is to provide producers, users, regulators, communities, and others with information that contributes...

Prepare for Updated Standards by Improving Your EtO Management Plan

David MacIntosh | April 13, 2023

Ethylene oxide (EtO) plays a critical role in manufacturing and medical device sterilization. However, this antimicrobial pesticide is also a carcinogenic agent that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers to be more dangerous over long-term exposures than was recognized in the past. As a result, EPA recently proposed revisions to its National Emission Standards...

Streamlined Management of Asbestos in Soil: UMass Boston’s UCRR Project

Will Wade | June 3, 2022

The hallmark of a successful construction project is marked by proper planning and budgeting. Even so, setbacks such as schedule delays are to be expected. But the sequence of events associated with the unanticipated discovery of asbestos contaminated soil on a construction site is anything but predictable. It can undoubtedly be a major roadblock against...

California Adds “Forever Chemical” PFOA as a known carcinogen to Prop 65 List

Ankur Singhal | March 4, 2022

As of February 25, 2022, California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has officially added perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) to the list of chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer under Proposition 65 (Prop 65). PFOA had already been listed as a Prop 65 chemical by OEHHA in November 2017 as a...

Beyond ASTM Phase 1: Do You Need the Protection of a More Robust Environmental Site Assessment?

Cindee Campisano | July 16, 2019

Purchasing or leasing a commercial property is a big decision, and you deserve to have a clear understanding of exactly what you’re buying. While your bank will require you to conduct an ASTM Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) to identify environmental issues associated with your new facility, this evaluation may not be comprehensive enough....

Why Tier II Compliance is Crucial for Community Safety — And How to Simplify the Filing Process

Margo Jay | January 24, 2019

As a facilities manager, you already know the importance of maintaining compliance with EPA regulations. However, with so many regulations to keep track of — and with reporting requirements changing constantly — maintaining compliance across the board can be a bigger challenge than many facilities are prepared to meet. Even worse, you might not even...

Managing Asbestos Contaminated Soil During Construction in Massachusetts: Tips for Hiring the Right Consultant

Will Wade | December 10, 2018

Recent Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) regulatory changes have significant impacts on construction sites where asbestos contaminated soil is present. Many sites, particularly those with a history of industrial, commercial or dumping activities, have soil that contains asbestos, often at “trace” (less than 1 percent) amounts. If asbestos in soil has been identified at...

Oil Spill Prevention and Compliance: Does the SPCC Rule Apply to Your Facility?

Cindee Campisano | August 27, 2018

Typically, when we think about the dangers of oil spills, we think of mass quantities of oil affecting large bodies of water. However, effective oil spill protection involves thinking much broader and smaller. In fact, just one single pint of oil spilled into a body of water can damage up to an acre of an...

PCBs on Campus: What Colleges and Universities Need to Know About This Emerging Environmental Concern

Matt Fragala | May 14, 2018

As an institution of higher education, you’re focused on protecting the health and safety of your students, faculty and staff — all while maintaining the quality of your campus environment. But now, on campuses across the US, there is growing anxiety about potential health concerns from an old contaminant found in building materials: polychlorinated biphenyls,...